The lowdown: Nouvel CC will want to have a good game going into the St. Charles Class C district after stubbing its toe Saturday against Carson City-Crystal. Waterford is the perfect opponent. The Lakers are three-time defending Class D state champions and are looking for a fourth straight. They won the Detroit Catholic League Class C-D championship Sunday and will provide a difficult challenge for the Panthers, whose only other loss came against Reese.

Key matchup: Nouvel defense vs. 3-pointers. The Lakers can shoot. While Nouvel will probably have an advantage inside with 6-2 Rachel McInerney, the Panthers have to be wary of the Lakers' outside threats. Lexie Robak and Ava Doetsch have won three state titles and would like to finish their senior season with four Class D state championships. The game is on Nouvel's "intimate" court, which could make it more difficult for Our Lady's shooters to find open space.

Prediction: Nouvel CC 54, Waterford Our Lady 49

Boys

Ithaca (14-2, 11-1) at Michigan Lutheran Seminary (13-5, 9-3)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The lowdown: Ithaca can take a big step toward clinching the TVC West title with a win against a quality Seminary team. The Yellowjackets hold a one-game lead over Valley Lutheran. In the first meeting, Ithaca earned a 65-51 victory over Seminary at Ithaca. Seminary gets the home court this time and will present some matchup problems. The Cardinals have adjusted their offense to take advantage of their outside shooting ability and look to guard Mike Greenwood, a 6-2 shooter who averages 17 points and 7 rebounds a game.

Key matchup: Jordan Hessbrook vs. Steven Dietrich. The two football players will battle underneath for rebounds, hoping to keep the other team from getting second shots or baskets in transition. Hessbrook led Ithaca to its third straight state football title, while Dietrich was a dominant MLS player at linebacker and running back.

Prediction: MLS 58, Ithaca 55.

Shepherd (11-7, 9-3) at Freeland (6-12, 2-9)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The lowdown: On the surface, this doesn't look like much of a matchup. But Freeland has gradually improved throughout the season as evidenced by the Falcons' wins last week over Swan Valley and bullock Creek. Freeland was snakebit in the first half of the season, losing plenty of close games. In the first matchup, Shepherd earned a 46-42 win at Shepherd. Jacob Whitting leads the Falcons in scoring with more than 12 points a game, but Freeland got a boost from Jake Jankoska last week, who missed some games during the season after an appendectomy. Plus, fans should go early to catch the girls game featuring Freeland star Tori Jankoska, who goes up against a good Shepherd girls team as part of a TVC Central doubleheader.